Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-09-29
THE OLD VETS.
Gathered in St. Louis in Great
Numbers Fight Their Battles
Ore and Ore.
A Tent City for the Veterans
Accommodations for as, 900
Prepared and Occupied
THE NATIONS PRIDE.

Gathering Of the Veterans mt Sc. Louis-Ths
Attendance Larger Than Anticipated.
ST, LOUIS, Sept. 26.-The feature of
this encampment is the sheltering of
large numbers of old veterans in tents.
Tried at each encsmpment before In
small numbers the plan gave such
satisfaction and pleasure that 1t was
decided to house vast numbers, and
the executive committee has arranged
to case for greater concourse of people
in the field than has ever before been
attempted IN the land. Except In
time of war. perhaps no canvass city
ofsuch proportions has ever been built
in soshort time. Within two months
4,500 tents with ample room for q, 900
soldiers. more than Is in the entire
United States Army, have been put
together and are now pitched in
tents within the parks of the city, all
within radius of two miles. A bale
o. straw makes mattresses for each
tent. The bed the soldier brings with
him strapped On bis knspsack or grip.
Ever and anon the surging crowd on
the street pause to hear the bugle call
and then q stentorian voice calling out
a name. company. regiment and state
SO metimes a call for a comrade not
seen for years. Too often there Is no
response. But then again an answer
and silence as they meet and then ju.
bilee. These camps are full of pathet.
ic meetings after years Of separation.
The great camp is series and will be-
come part of the Grand Army Of the
Republic eDcampment Of the future.
Frank p. Blair, post, besides the
usual reception OF visitors to-day,
marched to the residence ofthe widow
OF Gen. +. =. Blair at noon and pre-
sented her with medal recently
adopted by the post bearing AZ med.
allioD the head of her late husband.
In return Mrs. Blair presented to the
post the flag Of the Seventeenth army
corps, commanded by Gen. Blair dur.
ing the latter part of the war. All the
afternoon and evening the arrivals of
veterans and their families in squads.
groups, posts and divisions, by regular
and excursion trains aud by steam
boat have been incessant. They have
marched through the muddy streets
in spite Of the rain to camp and lodg.
ing house. Coming In such unorgan-
lied detachments and failing to report
all attempts to keep a record or make
an estimate of their Numbers have
failed, though those In charge are sat
isfied that very many more than were
counted upon have come. Every de-
partmept reports more men either
here or coming than were at first an.
nounced and il is safe to say that the
grand parade will be unprecedenedtly
large and imposing. This evening
the visitors were entertained by recep-
tions at the various post heaquarters.
Their balls aIe beautifully decorated,
have been thrown open all day and
many comrades have accepted their
hospitality. Owing to the inclemen.
cy Of the weather the committee doubt
the expediency of a parade tomorrow
and this evening II was agreed that In
case of light rain or drizzle the parade
should take place as on the program.
me. but In case Of heavy rain the pa
rade would be postponed until Wed
nesday morning at 10 o'clock. In the
event Of postponement the annual en-
campment session proper will not be-
gin until $3.50 o'clock Wednesday after
noon.